Laravel 5.1 @can, how use OR clause
Stefan Bogdanescu
Founder & Senior Architect · 2026-06-29
Title: Understanding Laravel 5.1 @can and Using OR Clause in Views for Access Control
Laravel offers developers a powerful authentication system that grants fine-grained access to resources based on the user's permissions. One of its features is the use of the @can directive within Blade templates to check if a user has particular abilities. In cases where you need to allow multiple options for a given ability, you might want to utilize an OR clause to facilitate such scenarios.
In this blog post, we'll discuss how to implement and handle the use of OR clauses in Laravel 5.1 using the @can directive within Blade templates. We will also provide some useful code examples and best practices for ensuring efficient access control in your applications. Let's get started!
The @can directive is used to check if a user has specific permissions. When you need to allow multiple permissions, there are different approaches that can be taken. Here are a few common ways to check conditions within an OR scenario:
1. Writing separate @can statements for each permission:
@if(Auth::user()->hasPermission('permission1') || Auth::user()->hasPermission('permission2'))
// Show the content intended for users with either 'permission1' or 'permission2'
@endif
This method involves creating multiple @can statements, each handling a different permission. While functional, this can lead to repetitive and unstructured code that may be difficult to maintain.
2. Combining permissions with OR in one statement:
@if(Auth::user()->hasPermission('permission1') || Auth::user()->hasPermission('permission2'))
@can('permission1', 'permission2')
// Show the content intended for users with either 'permission1' or 'permission2'
@endcan
@endif
In this approach, we use an @if statement to check if the user has one of the permissions. If this is true, we can then combine both permissions into a single @can directive, allowing access to users with either 'permission1' or 'permission2'. This method is clean and concise but still requires multiple statements to be managed.
3. Using Laravel Policies:
@if(Auth::user()->hasPermission('permission1') || Auth::user()->hasPermission('permission2'))
@canToSee(Request::route())
// Show the content intended for users with either 'permission1' or 'permission2'
@endcanToSee
@endif
Laravel policies allow us to define custom access rules per resource or model. In this case, we have created a custom 'canToSee' policy method that handles the permission checking and returns true if either 'permission1' or 'permission2' is present. This approach offers a more organized solution but may require additional setup depending on your application.
In conclusion, when working with Laravel 5.1 @can directive and OR clauses in views for access control, you should opt for the most appropriate method based on your project requirements. Keeping your code clean, well-structured, and easy to maintain is essential. For more in-depth guidance, refer to the official Laravel documentation or seek support from experienced developers within the Laravel community.
Remember to check out https://laravelcompany.com for expert guidance and services related to Laravel development!